Division B Round-Up: Sweden, Stay Perfect

29.07.2009

Sweden beat Estonia 66-55 on the first day of the Qualifying Round of the U18 European Championship Men 2009 Division B, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The game was close in the first half but once the Scandinavians took a 32-31 lead on Pierre Hampton's lay up in the first minute of the third quarter, they never relinquished it as they took first place in Group E with a 2-0 mark.

The Swedes were up by five, 49-44, to start the final frame and Estonia never got any closer than three. Alexander Lindqvist had 19 points.

In the group's other game, host nation Bosnia and Herzegovina were handed their first defeat of the tournament when they fell just short, losing 62-59 to Poland.

Meanwhile in Group F, Montenegro led from start to finish in beating Belgium 77-63 to top Group F. Boran Dubljevic had 24 points and 14 rebounds - both game highs - as the Montenegrins improved to 2-0.

England overcame a 38-31 half-time deficit to beat the Netherlands 77-65 in the group's other game and also stay undefeated.

A 34-10 third quarter turned the game in the favour of the English. Levi Noel hit a pair of free-throws to edge England in front, 41-40, with 7:30 left in the period and they never looked back as they soon had a double-digit lead which they held until the final whistle. Joshua Houghton had a game-high 20 points.